Ninja didn’t wear black!

Ninja didn’t wear black!

Ninja didn’t wear black!

Despite the popular image of the black clothed and hooded ninja stalking in the night, the ninja didn’t wear black!

Black actually reflected the light, making them visible in the darkness. Instead, the ninja wore Shinobi Shozoku consisting of a special pocket lined kimono-like jacket, Karusan-Bakama, the hakama like trousers tied close to the calf, and the Zukin, the scarf like hood, all made from cloth dyed a very dark blue that prevented the little light there was on their night time missions from showing them up. Another color that helped them blend into the night was a very deep reddish-brown, dyed using persimmon juice.